Monday, October 23, 2006

Strength Training Improves Artery Function Among Healthy Men in their 60's

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Despite some concerns to the contrary,strengthening exercises appear to help, not harm, older adults' arteryfunction, a small study suggests.

In general, experts advise that young and old alike include both aerobicactivities and strength training in their exercise routines. For olderadults, the benefits may include stronger muscles and bones, fewer physicallimitations and a lower risk of falls and fractures.

However, research in young adults has found that strength-buildingresistance exercises seem to increase "stiffness" in the arteries -- effectsthat would be concerning in older adults, whose risk of heart disease andstroke is already elevated.

In the new study, however, Japanese researchers found that strength trainingseemed to improve artery function in a group of healthy men in their 60s.

The researchers, led by Dr. Seiji Maeda of the University of Tsukuba, reporttheir findings in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Specifically, a 12-week leg strengthening regimen boosted the men's bloodlevels of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps dilate the arteries. Nitricoxide levels in the blood are a marker of how well the artery walls arefunctioning.

On the other hand, non-invasive tests found no evidence connecting strengthexercises to stiffening in the body's major arteries.

"The results suggest that resistance training in older adults would producebeneficial effects on the vasculature without any unfavorable effects,"Maeda's team writes.

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IHRSA stands for 'International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.' We are a trade association serving the health and fitness club industry. IHRSA's mission is to grow, protect and promote the health and fitness industry, and to provide its members with benefits that will help them be more successful.